{"id":9899,"date":"2026-02-26T12:18:50","date_gmt":"2026-02-26T12:18:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hog.thecreativeplot.com\/en-eu\/?p=10840"},"modified":"2026-02-26T17:30:43","modified_gmt":"2026-02-26T17:30:43","slug":"custom-bike-show-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hog.thecreativeplot.com\/gb\/custom-bike-show-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Custom Bike Show 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Harley-Davidson Custom Bike Show returns to the European Spring Rally, European H.O.G.\u00ae<\/sup> Rally and European Bike Week\u00ae<\/sup> with updated categories and two revisited locations<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The crowd-pleasing highlight of most Harley-Davidson and H.O.G.\u00ae<\/sup> rallies is the Custom Bike Show \u2013 whether you\u2019re a current Harley\u00ae<\/sup> owner or a future one just browsing for the first time. Because, let\u2019s face it, if you\u2019re not drawn to motorcycles by the invention and individualism of professional or amateur customisers, you don\u2019t really have a soul. Well, a biker soul anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Harley-Davidson Custom Bike Show at Europe\u2019s three major events is sponsored by motorcycle tyre specialists Metzeler \u2013 and top winners all receive a set of Metzeler tyres for their bike alongside Harley-Davidson trophies, while all entrants receive free gifts courtesy of H-D and Metzeler.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Come and see the show!
<\/strong>First up is the Custom Bike Show at the European Spring Rally on Friday 1 May in Senigallia, Italy, followed by the European H.O.G. Rally\u2019s Custom Bike Show on 19 June in Cascais, Portugal and finally on Friday 11 September at European Bike Week\u00ae<\/sup> in Faak am See, Austria. See links below to find out more about each event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plus, it\u2019s worth it for the kudos of showing off your bike to visitors and getting into the photo galleries. At many events there\u2019s also the added bonus of VIP presence and the opportunity of getting motorcycles and prizes signed or photos taken with them. In 2025, Karen Davidson attended the Custom Bike Show at Euro Festival in Saint-Tropez, France, then Bill Davidson attended the European H.O.G. Rally in Medulin, Croatia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Entering the competition
<\/strong>Who can enter? Literally anyone \u2013 provided you\u2019ve customised your motorcycle and it is a Harley-Davidson\u00ae<\/sup> or H-D owned brand at its original date of manufacture, although we do make an exception in the Radical Custom category.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thing is, we try to keep things simple \u2013 this is a free-to-enter show, you don\u2019t have to pre-register, just turn up, sign up, pick up your free gifts and you\u2019re in. It\u2019s not a concours event so we\u2019re not scrutinising every nut and bolt and gasket on the bike; judging is mainly based on aesthetic and how it fits a category theme, rather than precision. This is also reflected in the competition categories and in 2026 we\u2019ve expanded a little to make categorisation and judging easier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re also making allowance for consumer customisation versus purely professional, dealership or pro-customiser designed work with an owner-inspired customisation judges\u2019 prize to reward bikers\u2019 creations that haven\u2019t been made on a big budget, but do inspire judges with what the average Harley owner can aspire to. And remember, there is also a public vote: The People\u2019s Choice Award, sponsored by Metzeler and voted for by the public.     <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year there are six categories, reflecting the evolving styles of bike and customisation and acknowledging that some bikes may fit into more than one. When you enter, you can discuss with our entry judge which fits your bike best. However, the judge\u2019s choice is final on this matter. The categories for this year are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Tourer and Bagger:<\/strong> two- and three-wheeled bagger- and touring-oriented H-D\u00ae<\/sup> models, with identifiable original engine cases. All other modifications allowed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Cruiser:<\/strong> Harley-Davidson cruiser and roadster-oriented custom bikes. Evo and later H-D models with original frame number and engine cases; all other modifications allowed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Sport and Clubstyle:<\/strong> custom performance-oriented H-D models and Clubstyle H-D-based custom bikes. Original H-D frame and engine cases required; all other modifications allowed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Adventure and Off-road:<\/strong> Pan America\u00ae<\/sup> or any adventure-oriented or off-road H-D motorcycle, or off-road motorcycle brands associated with or previously owned by H-D, with original frame number and engine cases.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Antique and RestoMod:<\/strong> for antique, original or restored Pre-Evo Harley models (Flathead, Knucklehead, Panhead, Shovelhead, Ironhead Sportster\u00ae<\/sup> etc) with original frame number and engine cases; for RestoMod, all models inspired by and with a significant Pre-Evo H-D component (e.g. engine or frame) but with contemporary custom modifications. Note: separate awards for \u2018Antique\u2019 and \u2018RestoMod\u2019 may be made at the discretion of the judges.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Radical Custom:<\/strong> anything goes… but Harley-Davidson should be the inspiration! Any H-D or non-H-D models are allowed, so long as customisation is extreme and to a professional, or very high amateur standard. Note: non-Harleys that catch the judges\u2019 eyes will be awarded a separate non-Harley prize.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Each category will have a winner and a runner-up, with Best in Show, People\u2019s Choice and Metzeler Judges\u2019 Choice awards complemented by Best Paintwork and Best Detailing awards, should the judges decide there are worthy entries too.     <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While it\u2019s a Harley-Davidson bike show, we recognise that sometimes customisation will take people down routes that stray from the Milwaukee path, so within Radical Custom bikes that are only a tiny percentage Harley or even fully other brand can be recognised by a special non-Harley prize. Even if they cannot win Best in Show as a Harley-Davidson, they will be recognised. This is a motorcycle community, after all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We can\u2019t wait to host the 2026 Harley-Davidson Custom Bike Show at the European Spring Rally, European H.O.G. Rally and European Bike Week. See below for details and accommodation links.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spring Rally Preview<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spring Rally Official Accommodation Bookings<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

European H.O.G. Rally Preview<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

European H.O.G. Rally Official Event Accommodation Bookings<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

European Bike Week 2026 Accommodation<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Please note:<\/em><\/strong> all motorcycles are entered into this show at the judges\u2019 discretion and in the categories assigned. It is not a concours show and no other categories will be considered. Judges’ decisions are final. Best in Show is reserved for a Harley-Davidson motorcycles only, non-Harleys will win a separate prize and can only be entered in Radical Custom if they meet the criteria set out above. See release of liability for additional conditions of entry and use.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The categories and prizes in this article refer to the Harley-Davidson Custom Bike Show at the 2026 European Spring Rally, European H.O.G. Rally and European Bike Week only. Shows at other Harley-Davidson or H.O.G. Rallies may differ.     <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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